Saskatoon Construction II

[drm310]

Design unveiled for new aboriginal student centre

By Hannah Spray, The StarPhoenix
October 5, 2011

The design for a new building to house the University of Saskatchewan's aboriginal student centre was unveiled Tuesday.

The Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre will be a standalone building in the heart of the campus, south of the Arts building. A new centre has long been a goal not just for First Nations leaders and students, but also for U of S president Peter MacKinnon, who was excited to be able to announce plans for the building before his term as president ends next June.

"This new student centre is a place where students will see something of themselves and feel at home," he said, noting it will be a space that's welcoming to aboriginal and non-aboriginal students. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Design+unveiled+aboriginal+student+centre/5503492/story.html

[gowest]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I stumbled across this document today on the City of Saskatoon website. The City proposes several neighbourhoods for the east sector with a large chunk of land at its core slated to be a suburban business park and commercial developments. The land area that the proposed business park occupies looks massive.

http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Comm...nt/FutureGrowth/Documents/Land%20Use.pdf

It's also interesting to see how the proposed perimeter highway touches the east edge of the sector, intersecting with hwy 5 and hwy 41. Also of note is that the proposed east sector plan includes removal of a portion of hwy 41.

With Saskatoon's rapid growth, I am guessing that development of the first neighbourhood in the east sector is not that far off.

\
Wow. The city keeps moving east and soon the downtown will join the west side with no developement. There was a plan at one time to have the city surround the downtown core so it would remain central. Now it appears that plan has gone by the way side. If this trend continues it will kill the downtown core as we now see smaller office buildings going up in all the new areas. I feel sorry for downtown businesses that are small. Soon they will only have the downtown workers as customers. I might be wrong in my thinking, but the downtown should be the center of a city.

[WoodlandCritter]

yikes I wish they would stop building suburban commercial centres and large new neighbourhoods...do we really need more of the same stores in each centre...Let me guess there will be a walmart, canadian tire, shoppers, mcdonalds, pizza place, etc. What a draw this area will be, same old crap. Frack what stupid ideas our city has sometimes.

Encourage growth downtown? no?...more people downtown means more traffic, which means alternate modes of transport will become more feasible, which means better public transit and a more vibrant/interesting/fun downtown with more street life and variety of stores.

The potential is there. Just which way the city is going to tip in favour of needs to be addressed. But then again, All those home developers are licking their chops at these new neighbourhoods and just see money in their pockets. Maybe if people didn't pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for cookie cutter homes then some changes would come about.

[WoodlandCritter]

On another note. Griffith Stadium is turning into something good for the city. It becomes a big social draw for people of all ages to come out and watch entertaining football (or any other sport there) for a good price. The atmosphere is definitely a draw. Even though I haven't been to a game this season, the last time I was there was really fun.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

I wasn't a big fan of losing an upscale downtown staple for a 'chain' beer and burger joint (or just another freehouse but without the flavour and culture). But i'm starting to warm up to having another big draw downtown especially since I heard they will have a giant patio on the rooftop! What a great idea! View of the bes, downtown and river!

You had me at rooftop patio....

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

157 Second Avenue is probably the most urban building I've seen in the province. High quality and busy ground floor retail. 5 floors of residential. Gorgeous finish and a sleek top. And it comes right up to the sidewalk. It might just be my second favorite building after the Bessborough.

From an urbanism standpoint, The King George is great. Transparent storefronts, a mix of uses (retail, office, residential), high quality finishes, etc. From an architecture standpoint, its design is a little muddled and historicist. Still a great looking building though. Too bad the end of downtown it's in leaves something to be desired.

I do love the 2nd Ave Lofts as well. I think that development has more architectural integrity than The KG as the modernist facade has been respected and even enhanced with the windows punched through, and the contemporary looking added storey on top. The ground floor retail space and interaction with the street requires a renaissance of sorts, though.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by drm310

Design unveiled for new aboriginal student centre

By Hannah Spray, The StarPhoenix
October 5, 2011

The design for a new building to house the University of Saskatchewan's aboriginal student centre was unveiled Tuesday.

The Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre will be a standalone building in the heart of the campus, south of the Arts building. A new centre has long been a goal not just for First Nations leaders and students, but also for U of S president Peter MacKinnon, who was excited to be able to announce plans for the building before his term as president ends next June.

"This new student centre is a place where students will see something of themselves and feel at home," he said, noting it will be a space that's welcoming to aboriginal and non-aboriginal students. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Design+unveiled+aboriginal+student+centre/5503492/story.html

The design looks great! Kind of what I was originally expecting for the new SK Art Gallery...
I kind of agree with every comment posted on the SP page though...how does giving the aboriginal student body its own building foster unity and inclusion with the rest of the student body on campus?

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I do love the 2nd Ave Lofts as well. I think that development has more architectural integrity than The KG as the modernist facade has been respected and even enhanced with the windows punched through, and the contemporary looking added storey on top.

I always thought the "contemporary" top storey looked like hell. I understand it may be aesthetically pleasing to have some kind of crown at the top of a building to distinguish its height (not sure what the proper name of such a thing is) but that building's top floor looks like construction trailers.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by shmakim

I always thought the "contemporary" top storey looked like hell. I understand it may be aesthetically pleasing to have some kind of crown at the top of a building to distinguish its height (not sure what the proper name of such a thing is) but that building's top floor looks like construction trailers.

Interesting, I never thought that at all. I guess that's why they say opinions are like a**holes....

[Echoes]

I wanted to weigh in with my thoughts about Riversdale/20th Street.

Put me in the camp that firmly believes the area is on the rise and will turn the corner. It will not happen overnight, but it will happen. Although 20th Street is probably not ready for a pub yet (to answer EarlyByrd's question), there are still some strong indications that things are on the up-and-up.

The forces of gentrification have been underway in the area for a few years now. There are some widely agreed upon indicators of gentrification that can indeed be identified in Riversdale. The movement of artists into an area is considered to be an early indicator. Artists are considered to be 'pioneering gentrifiers.' They are attracted to an area such as Riversdale not only for the cheaper rents, but because the area's character is desirable to them. As a result, their movement into an area helps render it culturally desirable. In Riversdale, we can find AKA/PAVED Arts, La Troupe du Jour, the SSO, SK Native Theatre Company, etc. taking up residence.

We're also seeing 'guerrilla' developers come in to invest, upgrade properties, and realize potential that others may not see. In Riversdale, Shift Development has undertaken The Two Twenty project and is working on The Flats townhouses. Individuals are also buying and upgrading the character housing in the area as similar stock in Nutana, Varsity View, City Park, and Caswell Hill becomes out of reach price-wise.

The City is an actor in this too. River Landing and the Farmer's Market is nearby, developments that have impacted the desirability and potential of the area, and will continue to have a huge impact as they come to completion. Past and future streetscaping projects, the continued work of the Riversdale BID, and other City initiatives such as the Vacant Lot program and facade grants are to be considered as well.

There are new businesses popping up on 20th St. and around River Landing: Collective Coffee, yoga studios, some new restaurants, Cava Wines, etc.

All these factors are building momentum, and it is only a matter of time before the tide really turns and the ball gets rolling faster and faster. Riversdale is on the verge, a few more nudges and it will be on its way.

I have heard from some reliable sources murmurs of what could be in the works for the area yet. Property is changing hands, developers are inquiring, new businesses moving in, etc. Give it a year, and we might very well see what weight these murmurs hold.

Of course, there are still challenges to overcome. But if I had some money to invest, I'd be tempted to put it in Riversdale. Stay tuned.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I noticed in the Star Phoenix today a large colour ad promoting Mining for Talent: Vale Career Day occurring at TCU Place on Oct 19th. The ad says they are accepting resumes.

I wonder if Vale has opened, or plans to open, an office in Saskatchewan. Anyone know?

Good question. I would not be surprised if they establish themselves in Saskatoon. They already have a presence in Regina.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Echoes

You had me at rooftop patio....

[...]

A welcome expansion for patio capacity downtown. It would be neat to have total capacity and growth figures of patio seating in different neighborhoods. Something to think about.

[gowest]

Coming in on Highway 7 today it looks like they are starting to work on bringing 7 in to line up with the Dalmeny Road at Highway 14. Lets hope it goes quickly.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by gowest

Coming in on Highway 7 today it looks like they are starting to work on bringing 7 in to line up with the Dalmeny Road at Highway 14. Lets hope it goes quickly.

How is that going to work? Are they building the interchange too?

[skSK]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I stumbled across this document today on the City of Saskatoon website. The City proposes several neighbourhoods for the east sector with a large chunk of land at its core slated to be a suburban business park and commercial developments. The land area that the proposed business park occupies looks massive.

http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Comm...nt/FutureGrowth/Documents/Land%20Use.pdf

It's also interesting to see how the proposed perimeter highway touches the east edge of the sector, intersecting with hwy 5 and hwy 41. Also of note is that the proposed east sector plan includes removal of a portion of hwy 41.

With Saskatoon's rapid growth, I am guessing that development of the first neighbourhood in the east sector is not that far off.

Eight-year tax hike pitched for road repair

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix October 3, 2011

Saskatoon's city administration is proposing an eight-year dedicated tax hike to boost funding for the deteriorating road network.

The proposal, which will be debated Wednesday by city council's executive committee, lays out an eight-year phased-in tax levy to increase the budget to fix roads by $11.5 million by 2019.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Eight+year+hike+pitched+road+repair/5492203/story.html

We need to start planning a lot smarter... I don't understand why we're still planning more roads, more cookie-cutter neighbourhoods on greenfields, and those damn suburban centres. I understand we're growing, and that's fantastic. But it should not come with the automatic corollary of building neighbourhood after neighbourhood on the outskirts. By maintaining our low density by spreading out as our population grows, we will never develop an efficient and comprehensive transit system and our roads will deteriorate as money is thrown at maintaining more of them.

I really wish that instead of demarcating path around Saskatoon as just the perimeter highway, we think outside the box and imagine that as a long-term urban growth boundary. I know that opens a can of worms (e.g. development exploding in Saskatoon bedroom communities in response to a UGB), but let's just try thinking a little differently.

[Crisis]

... I don't understand why we're still planning more roads, more cookie-cutter neighbourhoods on greenfields, and those damn suburban centres.

Because that is where the majority of people in Saskatoon wish to live.

Although this is contrary to the opinion of many, if not most, of those who post in this thread, there are many people who do not want to live downtown within walking distance of work and amenities. They prefer to have a backyard in which their children can play and they can host BBQs for their friends & families. While you may not share their values, neither should you feel entitled to impose your values on others....

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Because that is where the majority of people in Saskatoon wish to live.

Although this is contrary to the opinion of many, if not most, of those who post in this thread, there are many people who do not want to live downtown within walking distance of work and amenities. They prefer to have a backyard in which their children can play and they can host BBQs for their friends & families. While you may not share their values, neither should you feel entitled to impose your values on others....

My biggest concern is less the sprawling residential development happening on the city's fringe, but more so the proliferation of suburban business parks in Saskatoon. A vibrant downtown (and I would argue, Saskatoon currently has one of the more vibrant, animated and successful urban cores in Canada) is absolutely vital to building and maintaining a city's unique identity, and to positioning a city as a desirable place in which to live. The last thing Saskatoon needs, in my opinion, are 4 or 5 gargantuan suburban business parks (that look the same no matter what city you're in) that continuously suck potential capital investment away from the downtown core. Regrettably, the inclination of many businesses to locate in suburban business parks seems particularly strong. I mean -- look how quickly the Stonebridge Business Park attracted tenants.

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by gowest

\
Wow. The city keeps moving east and soon the downtown will join the west side with no developement. There was a plan at one time to have the city surround the downtown core so it would remain central. Now it appears that plan has gone by the way side. If this trend continues it will kill the downtown core as we now see smaller office buildings going up in all the new areas. I feel sorry for downtown businesses that are small. Soon they will only have the downtown workers as customers. I might be wrong in my thinking, but the downtown should be the center of a city.

The city has 6 or 7 new neighbourhoods planned for the west sector around Blairmore, so hopefully that will achieve some east-west suburban balance in Saskatoon as time goes by. I believe Kensington gets underway next year.

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by skSK

Eight-year tax hike pitched for road repair

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix October 3, 2011

Saskatoon's city administration is proposing an eight-year dedicated tax hike to boost funding for the deteriorating road network.

The proposal, which will be debated Wednesday by city council's executive committee, lays out an eight-year phased-in tax levy to increase the budget to fix roads by $11.5 million by 2019.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Eight+year+hike+pitched+road+repair/5492203/story.html

We need to start planning a lot smarter... I don't understand why we're still planning more roads, more cookie-cutter neighbourhoods on greenfields, and those damn suburban centres. I understand we're growing, and that's fantastic. But it should not come with the automatic corollary of building neighbourhood after neighbourhood on the outskirts. By maintaining our low density by spreading out as our population grows, we will never develop an efficient and comprehensive transit system and our roads will deteriorate as money is thrown at maintaining more of them.

I really wish that instead of demarcating path around Saskatoon as just the perimeter highway, we think outside the box and imagine that as a long-term urban growth boundary. I know that opens a can of worms (e.g. development exploding in Saskatoon bedroom communities in response to a UGB), but let's just try thinking a little differently.

I tend to agree with you skSK. It is time for some creative thinking on the regional urban planning front to help thwart urban sprawl. Do you think there will ever come a time when Saskatoon and Corman Park will merge into one large "Greater Saskatoon" municipality? Such an entity would, I presume, better allow for ideas like UGBs to be considered.

[gowest]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

How is that going to work? Are they building the interchange too?

The last information I had was from Maurice Nault before he passed away. They are going to have a flat Diamond intersection which sounded like everything except the overpass. I don't understand why they would do it halfway rather that the whole package at one time. Money and importance I would suspect, however something is better than nothing for this very busy intersection. Those of you who drive this way daily can understand the need for it to be a complete project. Trucks of every size including oversize loads are increasing daily. Thrown in with this is the fact the bus stop for the Blairmore shopping centre is on the opposite side of the street. Add to this all the high school student going across here as well creates a very dangerous area.

[socialisthorde]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I tend to agree with you skSK. It is time for some creative thinking on the regional urban planning front to help thwart urban sprawl. Do you think there will ever come a time when Saskatoon and Corman Park will merge into one large "Greater Saskatoon" municipality? Such an entity would, I presume, better allow for ideas like UGBs to be considered.

I agree as well about the undesireability of suburban and exurban sprawl, and also about the need to consider Corman Park in planning the city. It is very difficult to get the exurbs on board with muniicipal planning though as they tend to be populated by more conservative folks ("I don't want my tax dollars goin' to no food bank or public transit for rubbies") and lets face it they have nothing to gain by entering larger planning agreements, but higher taxes. Edmonton has been struggling with this issue for years and ultimately it will only be resolved if the provincial government steps in.

I know lots of families that are happy to drive into Saskatoon on Warman Road to use the library, civic centres and other amenities offered by the city, but they would be aghast if I suggested they pay an extra fee to use these services (the road included) even though they don't pay a share through taxes. I'd love to put a toll on Warman Road and see how long the house prices in Warman/Martensville hold up. <end rant>